Cashner the other guy in Bauer's home debut

PHOENIX  Though he is the new young gun in the Padres’ starting rotation, it is mere happenstance that Andrew Cashner’s next start on Tuesday falls on the occasion of the home debut by Trevor Bauer, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ own version of Stephen Strasburg.

At least, the celebrated rookie pitcher is being handled by the D-Backs like precious cargo, including extreme limitations on his availability in face of a crush of media interest. If Bauer’s saying anything, it’s only on certain days, and it’s likely going to be spoken from behind a press –conference podium.

“Oh, man,” said Cashner. “I wouldn’t put up with that.”

Meaning, the rock-star treatment being afforded Bauer. Little doubt exists that Bauer – who was still pitching for UCLA 14 months ago -- is one of the best young pitchers to hit baseball. The Diamondbacks aren’t wasting their time in getting the No. 3-overall draft choice of 2011 to The Show, giving him eight starts in Double-A and eight in Triple-A, 16 games in which he averaged 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings.

Joining the Diamondbacks last week, the 21-year-old right-hander made his first major league start in a win at Atlanta, striking out four and walking three in four innings.

“I don’t know much about him, didn’t even know I was facing him,” said Cashner. “We saw him in spring training at Arizona. I saw him throw. He’s got good stuff, but it’s hard to say anything after seeing him for just one game…He’s a little guy who throws hard. That always catches your eye, when you see s a smaller guy like that, getting the most out of his delivery. I think it’ll be fun.”

The Diamondbacks may be over-protective of Bauer in some ways, but at his insistence, they’re not messing with his unorthodox delivery and what’s considered by some a risky ritual of preparation. Between and right before starts, Bauer engages in a game of ultra-long toss that’s quite the sight to behold.

During his college starts, he'd go the bullpen and throw more between innings. He was asked in his first press conference what his prescribed pitch count should be against the Padres.

"Two hundred fifty," said Bauer. "Nolan Ryan once threw 244 pitches (in 1971) and he had to retire ... 15 years later."

Much as he’d like to see Bauer have trouble with his Padres, manager Bud Black is not among those who’d criticize Bauer for throwing as much as he does. To the contrary, he approves whole-heartedly.

“It’s like a guy hitting range (golf) balls,” said Black. “I think to stay healthy as a pitcher, there’s a durability component. The only way to get durable is if you throw. Ultimately, in survival of the fittest, it’s the guys who throw a lot. I’m a proponent of throwing. I’m not a proponent of throwing a lot of breaking balls in practice, not a proponent of throwing a lot of sliders in practice or anything like that.”

Hot, hot, hot

Actually, for sheer heat, you could call this an “Andrew Cashner Road Trip.” A/C, for short. Because everywhere the Padres have gone throughout the past week-plus – Houston, Denver and now Phoenix -- the local temperatures were much like Cashner’s fastballs.

The readings: 101 … 102 … 102 … 99 … 100….

Day after day, city after city. But even Cashner can’t throw the kind of heat that greeted the Padres to Phoenix. One-oh-six.

“Hottest road trip ever,” said Black. “Hottest one for me.”

Minor notes

--The Padres will be back in Tucson for the 2013 season officials of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League team announced Monday. Originally, the Padres were to be in Tucson for just the 2011 season as Escondido considered building a ballpark for the team. That plan has died and the Padres are still looking for a permanent home for their Triple-A affiliate.

--Double-A San Antonio catcher Ali Solis was named Monday to replace Yasmani Grandal on the World Team roster for the Futures Game as part of the All-Star weekend. Solis, a native of Mexico, has the sixth-highest batting average in the Texas League (.303) with five homers and 32 RBI. He caught in the Texas League All-Star Game.

--Former Padres right-handed pitcher Josh Geer is the Texas League Pitcher of the Week. The Texas native and Rice University product was 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in two starts for San Antonio last week as rival batters hit only .163 against the cancer survivor. It was the third Texas League Pitcher of the Week award for Geer, who won the honor twice in 2007 en route to being the Texas League Pitcher of the Year honors while en route to the major leagues.

--Tucson infielder Jedd Gyorko has been named the PCL Player of the Week. Gyorko hit .571 last week (16-for-28) with two homers and 11 RBI. He had a .893 slugging percentage and .636 on-base percentage.